Timbers announce exhibitions vs. Valencia and Aston Villa

The Portland Timbers have announced two major exhibitions for the 2012 season, with Spain’s Valencia CF visiting on May 23, and Aston Villa from the English Premier League scheduled to visit on July 24.

Valencia competes in Spain’s La Liga, and have won six league titles, and also have made nine appearances in the UEFA Champion’s League. Valencia currently sits third in the league standings behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Aston Villa has finished in the top 10 of the English Premier League in the past four seasons, and feature former teammates of Timbers forward Kris Boyd in defenders Alan Hutton and Carlos Cuellar. This will be the fifth English Premier League team the Timbers have faced since 2005, though they have yet to win one of these exhibitions. The Timbers drew with Sunderland 0-0 in 2005, falling to Burnley in PK’s in 2009, falling 3-0 to Manchester City in 2010, and losing 3-2 to West Bromwich Albion last season.